Boot or shoe



2 Sheets Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

B. MOBBERLEY.

BOOT OR SHOE.

No. 580,501. Patented Apr. 13, 1-897.

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E. MOBBERLEY.

BOOT 0R SHOE.

No. 580,501. PatentedApf. 13, 1897.

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.UNITED: STATES PATENT Urrrcni ERNEST MOBBERLEY, OF CANTON, OHIO.

BOOT QR SHOE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No 580,501, dated April 13, 1897. Application filed August 27, 1896. Serial No. 604,091. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST MOBBERLEY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Boot or Shoe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boots and shoes, and the principal aim of the present invention is to construct a boot or shoe in such manner that a pneumatic bag or air-cushion may be inserted between the sole and insole in order to procure a soft, elastic, and agreeable bearing for the foot and yet obtain a hard wearing-surface for contact with the ground.

It is the further aim of this invention to provide a construction which will admit of a portion of the insole being lifted for the pur pose of affording access to the air-chamber, permitting the pneumatic bag or air-sack to be removed for repairs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the ensuing description. The invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and embodied in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Fig. 3 is a crosssection taken adjacent to the heel. Fig. iis a detail perspective view of the combined half-heel and counter-stifiener. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are cross-sectional views through the front portion of the shoe, illustrating different methods of forming and securing the upper.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a shoe comprising the upper 2, the sole 3, and the heel-4:.

5 designates a combined half-heel and counter stiffener, which is preferably made of metal,such as aluminium,or some compressed substance, such as vulcanite or paper. The

upper portion 6 corresponds in shape to the counter and fits between the lining and the upper and serves to stiffen the heel portion of the shoe, and for the sake of lightness and for allowing a certain amount of yielding and pliability to the heel portion of the shoe such portion 6 is provided with apertures 7 at each side. The lower portion 8 constitutes a halfheel and forms the support for the remainder of the heel 4, which is secured thereto by means of screws or other fasteners 9, passing down through the base-plate 10 of the oombined half-heel and counter-stiffener into said lower portion of the heel.

Intermediate the portions 6 and 8 a hollow ridge or crest 11 is formed, the same extending entirely around the counter and forming upon the inner side thereof a horizontal ledge or shoulder 12 and upon the outside a continuous groove 13. Perforations 14 are formed through said crimp, the same being adapted to receive the stitches by which the upper is secured in place. The base-plate 10 is provided with a forwardly-extending flap 15, which extends under the sole and serves to stiffen the same and to form a brace between the heel and the sole, said fia-p being secured to the sole by suitable fasteners or by cementation or otherwise.

16 represents the insole, which extends the entire length of the shoe from toe to heel and forms the upper wall of the air-chamber. The rear portion of this insole is left unstitched, so as to constitute a flap 17, which may be raised for giving access to the airchamber. The remainder of the insole is stitched at its edges to the inturned edges of the upper 2, and where such insole is quite thin, as in the case of slippers or light shoes for indoor use, a stretcher 18, of wire, is ex tended around the edge of the insole and secured thereto in any convenient manner for the purpose of holding the insole taut and preventing the same from buckling or bulging upward when the pneumatic sack or bag is inflated. In some cases it may be desirable to extend the upper over thesole to form the insole, and this may be done in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7.

Sufficient space is left between the sole 3 and the insole for the introduction of a pneumatic bag or sack 19, which is constructed approximately of the form of the sole, being slightly smaller in its dimensions. The chamher in which said bag or sack is placed islined taching the sole to the upper; but it may be desirable to stitch the upper directly to the sole, and the welt may thus be dispensed with. A protection-leather 21 is stitched or otherwise secured to the sole 3 and extended around the air-chamber for affording the proper protection for the pneumatic bag or sack, and, if

desired, the upper may be stitched to said protection-leather, thus dispensing with the welt 20, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Such protection-leather may also be used as the insole, or a separate insole may be placed thereon. v

22 designates a filling or reinforcement of leather or other suitable material which is introduced between the edge of the bag or sack 19 and the protection-leather 21 for pre venting the indentation of the sole and the consequent injury to said bag or sack. Where the protection-leather 21 is not employed, the reinforcement 22 may be placed outside of the sack 19, as shown in Fig. 5. The sole 3 extends from the toe back to the front of the heel in its normal thickness; but from such point rearward the sole is tapered to a thin edge and enters the metallic half-heel 8 above the flap l5 and base-plate 10, the screws or fasteners 9 passing through the rear portion of the sole, through the base-plate 10, and into the heel proper, 4E.

The bag or sack 19 is provided at its rear with a valve 34, which extends through an opening in the rear of the half-heel 8, adapting such bag or sack to be inflated and deflated at will.

24 designates a piece of wire bent into the form of a bail to correspond to the shape of the counter and extended around within the same. This wire normally rests upon the ledge 12, and its extremities are bent outward in opposite directions and inserted through bearing-openings near the front edge of the counter-stiffener, as shown in Fig. 4. The wire 24 is thus hinged at a point adjacent to the forward end of the heel, and the rear portion of theinsole is laced or otherwise secured to said wire, so as to be elevated therewith for giving access to the air-chamber. hen the flap 17 is depressed, it is engaged and held by the spring-catch 24:.

The'upper extends down outside of the portion 6 of the counter-stiffener and its edge is tucked into the groove 13 and stitched through the perforations 14, while the lining 25 extends down inside of such portion 6 and is cemented around the entire inner surface of the combined fastener and counter-stiifener.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a soft and yielding cushion is provided for the foot without impairing the wearing qualities of the shoe; also, that access is readily had to the space under the insole for the purpose of removing the air-sack for repairs, &c.; also, that the sole and heel are thoroughly braced with relation to each other, soas to fully counteract the weakening of the sole caused by forming the air chamber therein. It will also be understood that the shoe is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a boot or shoe, the sole and insole spaced apart to form an intervening air-chamber, and an inflatable sack removably fitted in said chamber, the rear portion of the insole being left loose and constituting a flap which may be raised for giving access to the space underneath the same, and a wire secured around the edge of the flap and having its ends pivoted at opposite points to the heel, substantially as described.

2. In a boot or shoe, the sole and insole spaced apart to form an intervening air-chamber, in combination with an inflatable sack removably inserted in said chamber, the rear portion of the insole being loose and constituting a flap which may be raised for giving access to the space beneath the insole, a wire secured around the edge of the flap and having its ends pivoted at opposite points to the heel, and a catch for engaging and holding said flap depressed, substantially as described.

3. In a boot or shoe, a combined half-heel and counter-stiffener having an inwardly-proj ecting ledge for the support of the insole and comprising a space below the plane of said ledge for the reception of an inflatable sack, substantially as described.

4:. In a boot or shoe, a combined half-heel and counter-stiffener having an inwardly-projectingledge for the support of the insole and comprising below the plane of said ledge, a space for the reception of an inflatable sack, and a bail-shaped wire having the rear portion of the insole attached thereto and having its extremities bent outward and inserted in openings in the counter-s tiffener, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a boot or shoe, a combined half-heel and counter-stiffener having an inwardly-proj ecting ledge for the support of the insole and comprising thereunder a space for a pad .or cushion, said device also comprising a baseplate for the attachment of the lower portion of the heel, and a forwardly-projecting flap adapted to be secured to the bottom of the sole, substantially as described.

6. A boot or shoe formed with an air-chamber extending from heel to toe between the insole and outsole, the said insole being left loose at its heel portion to form a flap which my own I have hereto affixed my signature in may be raised for giving access to the said the presence of two Witnesses. chamber, aledge projecting from the heel into said chamber to form a support for the flap, and an inflatable sack removably inserted in said chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ERNEST MOBBERLEY.

Witnesses CALVIN SEEMANN, CHAS. SEEMANN. 

